Japan Commits $336 Million In Guam Buildup

Japan Commits $336 Million In Guam Buildup Funding For FY09

By Jeff Marchesseault - Guam News Factor

GUAM - As debate rages on over controversial Guam-buildup spending amendments to a 2010 Defense Authorization Act that has already passed the full House and is awaiting action in the Senate, Tokyo is putting its money where it's mouth is regarding the buildup.

The U.S. State Department issued a statement today that Tokyo is moving forward with its end of the agreement to transfer U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam by offering an initial $336 million in payments relative to the move.

Japan Today's Sunday Edition reports that the payments answer the requirements spelled out in a transfer accord that took effect on May 19.

According to Japan Today:

The accord gives a legal basis to the 2006 Japan-U.S. agreement on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, commonly referred to as the ‘‘road map,’’ which Tokyo and Washington say is meant to reduce the burden on communities near U.S. bases. It legally requires Tokyo to spend up to $2.8 billion on infrastructure projects on the U.S. territory in the Pacific. The $336 million, or about 34.6 billion yen, will be used for infrastructure projects in the Finegayan area and Apra Harbor on Guam, the ministry [Foreign Ministry] said.

Here is the official media release from the U.S. Department of State:

U.S. and Japan Moving Forward on U.S. Force Realignment

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

July 11, 2009

On July 11, 2009 in Tokyo, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the United States of America James P. Zumwalt and Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone exchanged Notes pertaining to the transfer of funds provided by the Government of Japan to the United States Government in accordance with the Agreement on the Relocation of United States Marine Corps Personnel from Okinawa to Guam, signed by Secretary of State Clinton and Foreign Minster Nakasone on February 17, 2009.

Based on the exchanged Notes, the Government of Japan will provide $336 million to the United States Government during FY2009 to be used for projects to develop facilities and infrastructure on Guam for the relocation of 8,000 U.S. Marines and their dependents from Okinawa to Guam. This is a significant step forward towards implementation of the realignment package.

The United States Government remains committed to the full implementation of the realignment package as agreed in the May 1, 2006 Realignment Roadmap.

Projects to be funded by the Government of Japan during FY2009 for the relocation of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam:

On-base infrastructure project in Finegayan area (initial phase) $124.8 million

On-base infrastructure project in the north area of Andersen Air Force Base $27 million

On-base infrastructure project in Apra area $169.1 million

Design project (fire station and bachelor enlisted quarters in Finegayan area, and port operation unit headquarters building and medical clinic in Apra area) $15.1 million

TOTAL $336 million

P37-B projects for N. Luzon bared

NLAQ includes the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, and the northen parts of the four provinces of Aurora, Tarlac, Zambales and Nueva Ecija.

The DA aims to convert the region into premier agribusiness hub

AGRICULTURE Secretary Arthur Yap unveiled the P37-billion North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle (NLAQ) projects, which aim to convert North Luzon into a premier agribusiness hub.

Yap said that as of November this year, a number of projects worth P14 billion were being undertaken ahead of their respective timetables, while other development initiatives costing a total of P6.87 billion were on schedule.

The Department of Agriculture chief added that the projects include road networks, irrigation and power systems, electrification, airports, flood control, ports development and post-harvest facilities necessary to realize NLAQ’s full economic potentials and develop its advantage as a possible exporter to the North Asian market.

NLAQ includes the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, and the northen parts of the four provinces of Aurora, Tarlac, Zambales and Nueva Ecija.

President Gloria Arroyo, in her 2006 State-of-the-Nation Address, disclosed that the NLAQ is one of the five super regions.

The other super regions are the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway, Central Philippine tourism hub, Agribusiness Mindanao and the Cybercorridor.

All of the country’s regions were clustered into five growth centers, with each cluster specializing in a particular field of business based on the collective strengths and comparative advantages of the provinces under it.

Director Roy Imperial, the project manager of the NLAQ Project Management Office, said the NLAQ projects proceeding ahead of schedule include the P471.406-million development of an international airport in Poro Point, P2.58-billion Banaoang Pump Irrigation Project, P7.46-billion Casecnan Multi-Purpose Irrigation and Power Project, P1.37-billion Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguergaro Road, and the P2.9-billion Agno River Basin Flood Control Project.

Imperial also said that the Port Irene Rehabilitation and Development Project, which costs P3.38 billion, is proceeding on schedule, along with the P73-million development of the Bagabag Airport, and the P3.4-billion 33-megawatt Bangui Bay Wind Power Project.

Completed projects are the P10.6-million La Trinidad Fruit and Vegetable Minimal Processing Plant, which is now operational, and the P4.2-million Buguias Pre-Cooling and Processing Center was already completed in April, Imperial said.

The P7-million Northern Cagayan Airport Development Project, the P7.5-million development of Alaminos Airport, the P58-million North Luzon Wind Power Project, and the P296-million electrification project benefiting upland dwellers in North Luzon are still on the pipeline.

Imperial stressed that the government is currently addressing financial, legal or operational issues concerning another P15 billion worth of NLAQ projects
By Ira Karen Apanay, Manila Times Senior Reporter

Private sector eyed to fund seven projects

By Lawrence Agcaoili - Manila Standard Today

The National Economic and Development Authority has identified seven major infrastructure projects worth P67 billion for private sector financing.

Agency officer-in-charge Augusto Santos told participants of the Philippine Economic Briefing and Infrastructure Forum that the projects were “ready-to-go, have no major issues, and have high socio-economic impacts.”

Santos said the projects included the operations and maintenance of the 94-kilometer Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway project worth P32.81 billion, the first phase of the 84.5-kilometer Tarlac-La Union toll expressway worth P16.88 billion, and the extension of the LRT-1 project from Monumento to North Ave. in Quezon City worth P6.3 billion.

Also up for private sector funding are the P5.2-billion bulk water supply project of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System for the west concession, the P2.8-billion Panguil Bay Bridge, the P1.95-billion Wawa River project, and the privatization of the Ambuklao-Binga hydroelectric power plants.

Santos said the projects would increase the country’s global competitiveness as embodied in the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan.

The Arroyo government has laid down an infrastructure investment of P2.02 trillion from 2006 to 2010 that will be financed by the government, multilateral lending agencies and the private sector.

The government will shoulder about P881.45 billion of the total allocated amount; followed by the private sector with P663.2 billion; government-owned and controlled corporations, P337.32 billion; other sources, P86.75 billion; local government units, P44.44 billion; and government financial institutions with P3.67 billion.

PONDO SA INFRA PROJECTS SA BARANGAY STA RITA, APPROVED SA COUNCIL!

Aprubado na nang Sangguniang Panlungsod ang pondo para sa apat (4) na infra-structure projects sa Olongapo. Sa regular session na isinagawa kamakailan lamang sa mosyon ni Kgd. Anselmo A. Aquino na co-sponsored sina Kgd. Edwin J. Piano at Kgd. Rodel Cerezo ay binalangkas at pumasa na sa council ang Resolution Nos. 91, 92, 93 at 94 (series of 2007).

Ang mga lansangan at daluyan ng tubig sa Barangay Sta Rita na nangangailangan ng pagsasa-ayos ay batay sa rekomendasyon ni City Mayor James ‘’Bong’’ Gordon, Jr. sa Committee on Engineering and Public Works na isama ang mga ito bilang priority projects bilang tugon sa mga pagbaha na narararanasan ng mga residente ng barangay.

Sa bisa ng Resolution No. 91 (series of 2007), in-aprubahan ang halagang One Million Two Hundred Sixty Seven Thousand Three Hundred Twenty Three Pesos and Forty three Centavos (P1,267,323.43) para sa concreting of road sa Cristobal Street Baltazar Street, Sta Rita.

Ang Resolution No. 92 (series of 2007) ay nag-aapruba naman sa pondong Two Million Two Hundred Forty Nine Thousand Five Hundred Forty Eight Pesos and Nineteen Centavos (P2,249,548.19) laan para sa concreting of road and construction of drainage system sa Magiting Street, Del Rosario Street-Dead End, Sta Rita.

Ang Resolution No. 93 (series of 2007) ay nag-aapruba sa halagang One Million Seven Hundred Forty Seven Thousand One Hundred Eleven Pesos and Eighty Four Centavos (P1,747,111.84) para sa Asphalting of Road sa Camia Street, Sta Rita (Filtration Street-Amapola Street).

Halagang Four Million Thirty Eight Thousand Three Hundred Seventy Six Pesos and Ten Centavos (P4,038,376.10) rin ang inilaan para sa concreting of road and construction of drainage system sa Cristobal Street, (Sta Rita Road-Cristobal Extension) Sta Rita batay sa Resolution No. 94 (series of 2007).

Umabot sa mahigit Nine Million Three Hundred Two Thousand Three Hundred Fifty Nine Pesos and Fifty Six Centavos (P9,302,359.56) ang pondong inilaan ng Pamahalaang Lokal ng Olongapo sa apat (4) na priority projects na sisimulan ang implementation sa mga susunod na araw.


Pao/rem